In KwaZulu-Natal, this day was known as Shaka’s day, commemorating the Zulu King Shaka, who died in 1828. The Public Holidays bill presented to parliment after 1994 didn’t originally include Heritage Day, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, a political party with a large Zulu membership, objected. A compromise was reached by creating a holiday that would forge a new identity for all South Africans.
To create unity from diversity after the dismantling of apartheid, Heritage Day highlights the histories of all racial groups and recognises all the men and women who have contributed to the heritage and culture of the nation.

Freedom of cultural, religious and linguistic expression is now enshrined in the constitution. The term Ubuntu, meaning “I am because you are”, is used to engender respect for other people.

South Africans visit heritage sites, acknowledge the different cultures, and celebrate the various aspects of our culture such as art, music, research and teaching.

Over the past few years South Africans have been re-branding Heritage Day as “National Braai Day”. Jan Braai has started a revolution to unite South Africa over a braai. There even is a National Braai Day Anthem, see below. Find out more at braai.com.

You can read more about Heritage Day and all the other South African Public Holidays in Awesome South Africa.

How are you going to be spending your Heritage Day on the 24th of September?

7 Comments

I hope we can refrain from calling Heritage Day, National Braai Day — let’s truly celebrate our heritage and not allow it to be hijacked by the “here and now” enjoyment of braai meat. Seriously there’s a lot to celebrate about our South African heritage beyond this fascination with “braai-dom.” Afterall, this is the very heritage that was suppressed in order for apartheid to take hold and thrive, so why are we too now covering it up for our children to never know it but only associate it with braaing?

First time I actually heard and watched this video/song, my goodness! Am I South African?, Why did I not hear this son before like on 94.5 KFM, afterall, I do live in Cape Town! I feel disappointed in myself. Enough of that, I loved it, beautiful and all the cultures singing together, great!

Happy heritage day,Many people forget their cultures and this means you forget where you come from implies that you cant know where you going which leads to moral decadency in our society,lets together celebrate our traditions and norms happy Heritage day